Fitting for attaching side rails to corner posts



March 28, 1944. J. KETOLA 2,345,344

FITTING FOR ATTACHING SIDE RAILS TO CORNER POSTS Filed 001;. 15, 1942INVENTOR A eZ0Z4.

ATTORNEIS.

Patented Mar. 28, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE FITTING FORATTACHING SIDE RAILS T- CORNER POSTS I J ohn Ketola, Detroit, Mich. 7

Application October 15, 1942; Serial No'. 462,072

9 Claims.

The invention relates generally to the connecting of structural members,and it has particular relation to improvements for connecting a bed postto a side rail or spacing member.

It is rather general practice in connecting a bed post to a side rail orspacing member to provide a pair of hooks, on the end of the side rail,which are adapted to project into long deep slots formed in the post andto engage pins embedded in the post and extending across the slots. Theparts are so related that, upon inserting the hooks, downward pressureon the side rail such as by stepping on it brings the end of the lattertowards the surface of the post. This is effected through a cammingaction between the hook and the pin, and considerable pressure isapplied against the side of the pin especially if the hookwedges'between the bottom of the slot and the pin. Because of thisforce; and also because of the deep, long slots, the wood is weakenedand splitting of the post frequently occurs. rail may occur also forsimilar reasons since usually the hooks are disposed in deep slots andare fastened to the rail by transverse pins;

Weaknesses in the structure may be lessened by increasing the size ofthe rail and post but this requires more wood and therefore is moreexpensive. Accordingly, it has been difficult in the prior structures ingeneral use on wooden bed frames to provide an inexpensive connectionbetween the post and side rail which would not at some time or otherduring assembly or use of the bed cause splitting of the wood at one ormore corners of the frame. It may be added finally that the connectionsused" heretofore in wooden frames have tended to be or to become looseduringuse and hence the frame would not remain rigid in shape.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved means forconnecting the bed post to a side rail, or the like; which willpractically eliminate any danger of the wood splitting as a result' ofthe connection.

Another object of the invention isto provide an improved connectingmeans which may be constructed of sheet metal in an efficient andeconomical manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved connectingmeans for bed frames or the like which will largely avoid weakening ofthe parts through considerable cutting ofthe wood such as in the formingof deep; relatively long slots or grooves.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved connectingmeans, such as men- Splitting of the side tioned, which still obtainsthe desirable result of drawing the end of the side rail into closeproximity to the surface of the post. e

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingspecification, from the drawing relating thereto; and from the claimshereinafter set forth.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1- is a side elevational view of a connectionbetween a bed postand side rail, or the like, constructed according to one form of theinvention;

ing the two parts in separated relation;

Figure 3 is a detail view on a larger scale, showing the two connectingmembers which are fas'-.

corner bed post isindicated at l0 and a side rail or spacing member isindicated at H'.- These parts may be constructed of wood, and it will beunderstood that four posts are provided and that the two opposing siderails H are connected at opposite ends to the post at the correspondingsides.

The connecting member or plate on the post, as

perl'ia iis best shown by Figure 3, comprises an angular sheet metalmember I2 having leg ele{ ments l3 and I4. These legs are disposed inright angular relation and fit that corner of the post directed towardsthe center of the bed frame and preferably the leg l3 laysin a cut-outor rabbet'ed recess IE, not shown, so that the outer surface of the legis substantially flush with the remaining surface of the wood at thatside of the post. It istobe observed that this side of the post havingthe leg l3 thereon is adjacent to the end of the side rail I l, and thisis the reason for Preferably having the leg [3 flush with the surface ofthe post, as then it will not interfere with bringing the end face ofthe'side rail against the post surface. One or more flatheaded screws I6may be used to secure the leg I 3" to the post.

Substantially intermediate itsupper and lower ends, the leg I3 has awedge-shaped projection I1 belt at rightangles thereto, and thisprojection is disposed in a correspondingly shaped slot 18 formed in thepost. An integral wall 20 of similar shape is reversely bent about therear tapering edge of the projection IT, as indicated at 21,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showand the projection andwall are disposed in laminated relation. In order to form a wedge-shapedsheath or pocket between the laminated parts, the projection I1 islaterally pressed out, as indicated at 22, and it is to be noted thatthe lower edges of the projection and wall are substantially together,as indicated at 23, so that the lower edge of the pocket is not open.

The leg element. H of the member I2 has a reversely bent plate element26 which extends substantially to the corner of the post, that is,substantially to the plane of the leg l3, and the element and leg H aresecured in laminated relation and to the post by means of verticallyspaced screws 21. In order to form vertically spaced or projection 46and these projections are like the projections 40 and 4|, and aredisposed in corresponding planes. It is to be observed and understoodthat the projections described may be formed from flat sheet metalintegral with the leg 36, and that, in forming such projections, themetal is first out along lines which divide them and that, after thecutting operation, the projections are bent in the manner described.

The wedge-shaped projections or blades on the member 35 are shaped andlocated so that they will cooperate with the three pockets or sheaths onthe member l2. As seen best by Figures 1 and 2, the projections 4| and46 are adapted to sheaths or pockets between the elements I4 and 26,with the pockets on the order of that previously described, the metal inplate element 26 is outwardly pressed, as indicated at 28 and 29. It maybe observed that the screws are so located that the elements are held incontacting'relation at upper and lower sides of each pocket, so that theplate elements cannot spread apart adjacent the pockets. By having thepockets formed through outward pressing of the plate element 26, the legelement I4 may lie flat against the side of the post, and this increasesthe sturdiness or rigidity of the member, since both of the legs l3 andI4 are flat against the surfaces of the post and are held thereagainst.

The member |2 can be constructed from a single piece of sheet metal, andthe pressed-out portions at the pockets may be formed readily thereinbefore the legs are bent into final positions. After the pressing outoperations and after the legs are bent into proper positions, the membermay be readily applied to the post simply by moving the projection intothe slot I8 in V the'post until the leg 13 is against the post. Then thescrews may be applied as to positively anchor the member in position.

Now directing attention to the end of the side rail II, a connectingplate member 35 is provided on the inner side thereof which includes aleg element 36 fastened to the side rail by means of vertically spacedscrews 31. This leg element, at its lower end, has an inturned portion38 resting tion with the plate element, to provide a wedgeshaped bladeor projection 4| disposed substantially parallel to the side surface ofthe rail. mediately below the projection 4|, the member has a portion 42bent reversely to the portion 40, and which likewise terminates in awedge-shaped projection or blade 43, disposed parallel to the projection4|. Dueto the fact that the parts 48 and 42 are bent in oppositedirections, the projections 4| and 43, while disposed in parallelrelation,,are separated transversely of the side rail. It may be addedfurther that the projection 42 preferably is embedded in a rabbet orrecess in the end face of'the side rail, so that it will be flush withsuch end face.

Below the projection 42, a third portion on the member terminates in awedge-shapedblade cooperate with the pockets 28 and 29, while, as bestunderstood by Figures 3 and 4, the projection 43 is adapted to cooperatewith the third pocket formed by the parts I1 and 20.

All of the projections or blades and the pockets or sheaths are soshaped that, upon downward movement of the rail after the projectionsinitially enter the pockets, the end face of the side rail is drawncloser to the post and finally, when the projections are substantiallyseated in the pockets, the end face of the side railis brought againstthe post surface. The angularity of the projections and pockets is suchthat the side rail will not separate from the post except by upwardlifting of the side rail and, consequently, when the connection is oncemade, there is no tendency for the side rail and post to separate. Byhaving the vertically spaced pockets 28 and 29 and projectionscorresponding thereto, considerable rigidity is provided against anytilting of the post and side rail relatively in a vertical direction,although it should be understood, too, that the 'third pocketintermediate the first mentioned pockets also promotes this rigidity.Moreover, by having the pockets and projections spaced transversely ofthe side rail, considerable rigidity is provided against angling of theside rails and the posts in a horizontal plane, so that once the fourcorner posts and side rails are in position, a rather rigid rectangle isprovided, assuming, of

, course, that the posts are connected by end members, as is ordinarilythe case.

In so far as the member I2 is concerned, the face engagement between theleg l3 and the post surface will prevent any damage to the Wood throughforces applied in a direction perpendicular to the legs. Downward forceson the member l2 will be taken by the lower edge of the leg I 3, thescrews fastening both legs l3 and M to the post by the projection in theslot 8 and by friction between the legs l3 and M and the sides of thepost.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that a simple andeconomical connection may be provided for connecting bed posts to siderails or for connecting similar structural members, and that theconnections may be made easily and without difficulty. Furthermore, it

will 'be understood that danger of wood splitting,

such as mentioned heretofore, is practically eliminated. In fact, theinvention allows use of even smaller posts and side rails as compared tothe prior practice, while still obtaining sufficient strength ofstructure since weaknesses such as mentioned are substantially avoided.In a bed structure, by having one of the connections at eachcorner,.great rigidity is obtained, while still allowing easy assemblyand disassembly of the parts. It may be observed, finally, that the twoconnecting members shown in the drawings are adaptable without change atthe diagonally opposite corners of the bed frame, and that, at thecorners of the frame, the connecting members may be changed in a mannerreadily apparent so as to obtain the same type of connection at eachcorner.

Due to the fact that the invention provides a connection which may beapplied with very little cutting or weakening of the wood members withwhich it is used, it permits not only a reduction in size of woodmembers as compared with prior connectors for the same purpose but alsopermits the use of softer wood in such members than can be used withprior connectors.

Although only one form of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat various modifications may be made without departing from the scopeof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A connection comprising an elongated sheet metal plate havingintegral sheaths on its opposite side edges which project from the sameside of the plate in substantially parallel relation, and a second platehaving portions at least one of which is bent to produce integral bladesdisposed in spaced relation and which project into the sheaths.

2. A connection comprising an elongated sheet metal plate having a pairof sheaths formed integrally with the plate and projecting angularlyfrom one side edge thereof in spaced relation, a third sheath formedintegrally with the plate and projecting angularly from the other sideedge thereof with the third sheath disposed intermediate the pair ofsheaths in a direction lengthwise of the plate, a second plate, andblades on one edge of the second plate and projecting into the sheathsrespectively, said blades comprising porticns integral with the secondplate and bent away from the latter and then into substantially parallelrelation thereto with alternating portions bent away from opposite sidesof the plate.

3. A connection comprising an elongated sheet metal plate having a pairof sheaths formed integrally With the plate and projecting angularlyfrom one side edge thereof in spaced relation, a third sheath formedintegrally with the plate and projecting angularly from the other sideedge thereof with the third sheath disposed intermediate the pair ofsheaths in a direction lengthwise of the plate, a second plate, bladeson one edge of the second plate and projecting into the sheathsrespectively, said blades comprising portions integral with the secondplate and bent away from the latter and then into substantially parallelrelation thereto with alternating portions bent away from opposite sidesof the plate, and an anchoring projection on one end of the second plateand comprising a portion integral with the plate and bent laterallytherefrom.

4. In combination, a post or the like, a sheet metal member fastened tothe post and having leg elements projecting angularly from its oppositeedges, plate elements laminated on and fastened to such leg elementsrespectively, means forming a sheath on each leg element comprising theleg element and the plate element fastened thereto, with one of theelements having a flat portion pressed out into spaced relation to theother element; a side rail or the like, and a connecting member on therail having blades received in said sheaths.

5. In combination, a post or the like, a sheet metal member fastened tothe post and having angularly related leg elements projecting from itsedges, each of said leg elements having a portion reversely bent fromone edge thereof so as to provide a laminated structure, means formingsheaths between the laminated parts and comprising such parts with aportion of one lamination spaced from the other; a side rail or thelike, a plate fastened to the rail, and blades on the plate andrespectively received in the sheaths.

6. A connecting member comprising a sheet metal plate having integralleg elements projecting angularly from opposite edges thereof insubstantially parallel relation, each of said leg elesuch portions whichare disposed in substantially parallel relation to each other andsubstantially parallel to the plate but at opposite sides of the latter.

8. A connecting member comprising an elongated sheet metal plate havingportions along one of its longer edges which are respectively benttransversely to the plate and in opposite directions, blades on the endsof such portions which are disposed in substantially parallel relationand substantially parallel to the plate but at opposite sides of thelatter, and a projection on one end of the plate and comprising an endportion of the latter bent away from the plane of the plate.

9. In combination, a frame member or the like, a sheet metal platefastened to the member and having a leg element projecting angularlyfrom one edge thereof, said leg element having a portion reversely bentfrom one edge thereof so as to provide a laminated leg structure, meansforming a sheath between the laminated parts and comprising such partswith a portion of one part pressed out into spaced relation to theother, a second frame member, a plate fastened to the second framemember, and a blade on the plate and projecting into the sheath.

JOHN KETOLA.

